Peasants/serfs

Peasants/Clothing/Food/Homes/Childhood/Marriage/Religion

~You were born into a class of people and generally stayed in that class for your entire life.

~For peasants, life was hard. They worked long hours every day just to ensure that their family had a roof over their head and food to eat.

~Most of the peasants were farmers, but some were tradesmen, such as millers or tavern owners

Clothing~Because they were poor, their clothing was usually rough wool or linen. The women wove the fabric and made the clothes. Peasants generally had only one set of clothing and it almost never was washed.

Food~Near their homes, peasants had little gardens that contained lettuce, carrots, radishes, tomatoes, beets and other vegetables. They also might have fruit and nut trees.

Homes~The rooms had dirt floors and a few furnishings in the common room, such as stools, tables, chairs and chests. Houses were constructed of stone or of branches covered with mud and straw.

Childhood~In a peasant household, everyone was needed to work in the fields. Often children as young as age 2 were left alone. Many accidents happened.